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Want to use one of those new nano-SIMs? You'll need one of these
Thinking of hopping on a new contract, but lacking that smaller SIM standard that the iPhone 5 will be packing? You'd best pick up one of these, then. UK carriers, including Three and Vodafone, are already stocking up on these nano-SIMs, and they're also prepping these tiny adapters to ensure the new cards will work across all their devices. These will convert a nano-SIM to both micro and standard sizes, so we'd advise picking one up the same time you visit the phone store. (We've included a glimpse of Vodafone's nano-SIM after the break.) [Thanks Daniel!]
New smaller SIM format gets standardized, shrinks 40 percent (update: Nokia gives bitter OK)
ETSI has given the nod to a new SIM format standard, which will be 40 percent smaller than the existing micro-SIM design. Agreeing to the design in Osaka, Japan, the shape will be 12.3mm by 8.8mm and will measure the same thickness as existing SIMs at 0.67mm thick. The design promises to work with existing hardware and appears to fly closer to Apple's suggested size, following plenty of crossed words between manufacturers over the next iteration of the card. Update: Nokia has since put out a statement saying it will honor ETSI's decision and license out the needed patents on fair terms after the standards group made sure the vote was fair. We detect more than a small number of sour grapes from Espoo over having its own design rejected, though: it still sees Apple's nano-SIM as "technically inferior" and thinks the existing micro-SIM will still be the "preferred option." We can think of a couple of reasons why Nokia might not be so keen to switch. [Thanks Prodan] Jon Fingas contributed to this report.
tPhone competes with Apple Peel 520, turns your iPod Touch into a chubby phone
Well, it didn't take long for the Apple Peel 520 to go from pioneering phone-maker to competition. Enter the tPhone, an also derivatively named and similarly positioned device that attaches to an iPod Touch and turns it into a phone. This one packs a 1,200mAh battery, 50 percent larger than the Apple Peel, but offsets that by existing as a "super-duper thick" hard case that clips on to the Touch. It naturally also offers a SIM slot and a dock port, augmented by a handy microUSB port on the side. It'll set you back ¥700, about $100, so you're paying a bit of a premium over the $75 Apple Peel. Worth it given the extra bulk and cost? That depends: just how big are your pockets?
Kindle 2 dissected, found to contain space for a SIM card
The Kindle 2's only been in our hot little hands for a few hours, but the screwdriver-happy scamps at iFixit couldn't resist -- they've already ripped theirs into its many component pieces. Interestingly, the teardown revealed an empty space for a SIM card slot, which might indicate Amazon's got firmer plans for the Kindle's international debut than they were willing to talk about at the launch. Don't get too excited for any VAIO P-style SIM-slot hacks, though, since the US edition of the reader only has a CDMA radio for Whispernet in it. Oh well, it's gotta happen sometime -- for now we're off to find a screen protector, since the teardown also revealed that the E-Ink screen doesn't have anything over it at all.
